APRIL 2021 THE RIDER /51


Days End Farm Horse Rescue Receives Grant To Expand Footprint and Enhance Equine Welfare Offerings


Woodbine, MD — Maryland State Sen- ator Katie Fry Hester announced on Fri- day, April 2, that Days End Farm Horse Rescue, Inc. (DEFHR) was approved for $500,000 as part of a Legislative Bond Initiative. Days End Farm Horse Rescue is located in Woodbine, MD, and is the only center in the State of Maryland and one of only a handful in the country working to rescue horses that have en- dured abuse and mistreatment. DEFHR will acquire the adjacent firehouse prop- erty in Lisbon, MD, and repurpose it to expand its operations including con- struction of an educational welcome center.


The mission of DEFHR is not only


to rescue and rehabilitate suffering horses but to prevent abuse and neglect through education and community out- reach. Renovations of the firehouse property include exterior updates, an ed- ucational welcome center with interac- tive displays to support


its nationally-recognized humane/environ-


mental education program- ming, banquet hall to class- room conversion, bunkhouse conversion to administrative offices, and outbuilding con- version to equine rehabilita- tion medical suite. Maryland State Senator


Douglas J.J. Peters, Chair of the Capital Committee, said, “I am honored to support or- ganizations and people, es- pecially those in Maryland, who dedicate themselves to the rescue and re- habilitation of animals.” Senator Peters also added, “Days End Farm serves as a benefit to the entire State of Maryland, which is why their continued work is so important. This landmark project will serve to broaden awareness of how vital a role Days End Farm serves for the en- tire horse industry.” “Days End Farm Horse Rescue is


an invaluable member of our commu- nity, and the work that they do for the


Upperville Colt & Horse Show Returns to Celebrate 168th Year


The Upperville Colt & Horse Show will run on June 7-13


UPPERVILLE, Va., March 30, 2021 – The Upperville Colt & Horse Show (also known as the Upperville Horse Show), celebrating 168 years, is the oldest horse show in the country. After having to cancel last year due to the COVID-19 pan- demic, the show takes place this year on June 7 through June 13 in Upperville, Va. The Upperville Horse Show is adhering to all current COVID-19 protocols as out- lined by the Governor of Virginia. Decisions about al- lowing spectators is ex- pected to be announced by mid-April. UCHS was founded in


1853 to encourage better breeding of horses. Since that time, thousands of equestrians, horse breeders and spectators have gath- ered in Upperville each year to admire some of the na-


tion’s most talented horses and riders. What began as a one-day show, with only a few breeding classes, has grown into a week-long tra- dition with classes for chil- dren,


adults and


families—amateurs as well as top professionals. Each year, beneath the oaks at Grafton Farm, more than 2,000 horse and rider com- binations compete during the week.


Competitors will enjoy


several improvements since they last visited, including updated water and electrical systems throughout Grafton Showgrounds, new footing in the Main Hunter Warm- up Ring, and new Thor- oughbred Incentive High Point prize money awards. New this year is the


$37,000 Upperville Power & Speed Stakes CSI 4* on Thursday at 1 p.m. T h i s class will join fan favorites including the Welcome Stakes on Friday at 2 p.m.; Leadline divisions on Satur-


day afternoon, during which adorable young children ages one to six (on adorable ponies) try to win the com- petitive class; and the $25,000 USHJA Interna- tional Hunter Derby on Sat- urday at 4 p.m. There are other exciting classes all week that include side-sad- dle demonstrations and jumping, family classes, conformation classes and more. The week culminates in the $213,300 FEI 4* Up- perville Jumper Classic on Sunday, June 13. Click here for a complete show sched- ule.


The Upperville Colt &


Horse Show is sponsored by Mars Equestrian, Buckeye Nutrition, Nutro, Ethel M Chocolates, Lugano Dia- monds, the Gochman Fam- ily, B&D Builders, Salamander Hotels & Resort and many additional indi- viduals, companies and or- ganizations.


State of Maryland and the equine indus- try cannot be overstated,” said Senator Hester. “The Legislative Bond Initiative will support their amazing work, imple- menting state policies for the benefit of horses that have been mistreated in some of the worst ways imaginable. I encour- age everyone who loves horses to come visit the rescue, meet the horses, and ‘adopt one’ to support if you can!” DEFHR Chief Executive Officer,


Erin Clemm Ochoa, stated, “I cannot ex- press how honored we are to receive this


endorsement and support from the state. The core of our work has always been to serve as a resource for county agencies and the community. To have 30-plus years of work recognized as a value for the State of Maryland and worth investing in is incredi- bly humbling. We are so grateful and excited to further enhance our contributions to


equine welfare.” Education is at the forefront of


DEFHR’s mission and propelled the de- cision to expand its operations. This in- creased space will allow the organization to host more field trips and educational events for all levels of edu- cation across the State of Maryland. In addition, DEFHR trains individuals to assess cases of abuse and enforce the policies that are set at the state level for the humane treatment of equines. The bond initiative will expand its training


capacity and will make the enforcement of state policy in this area more efficient and effective.


About Days End Farm Horse Rescue Founded in 1989, Days End Farm


Horse Rescue, Inc., is a nationally rec- ognized animal welfare nonprofit organ- ization that ensures quality care and treatment of horses through intervention, education and outreach. As a premier all-breed equine rescue, DEFHR focuses its attention on legal documentation for court, rehabilitation and recovery of an- imals in distress while preventing abuse and neglect through community educa- tion and outreach. Its 58-acre farm in Woodbine, Maryland provides respite for more than 80 equine at any given time. DEFHR is accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuar- ies and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Al- liance. To learn more, volunteer or donate, visit www.DEFHR.org.


Update on “Big Sunnyland Canal Bridle Trail” Following Wellington Village Council Meeting


Wellington, FL – March 1, 2021 – At the Village of Wellington Council Meeting on February 23, 2021, the Council affirmed their strong support for the preservation of Wellington bri- dle trails. The Lake Worth Road Right of Way Bridle Trail, also known as the “Big Sunnyland Canal Bridle Trail” in Palm Beach Point, is one of the most unique and desirable publicly accessi- ble bridle trails in all of Wellington, Florida. Used by thousands of horses and riders every year, the trail is at risk due to two adjacent landowners who petitioned the Village of Wellington and ACME Improvement District Board, current managers and owners of the land, to give the land to them. The comments from the Coun-


cil, given through Village Attorney Laurie Cohen, affirmed their strong support for the preservation of Wellington bridle trails. Specifically, Cohen stated that


the Big Sunnyland Canal Bridle Trail is owned by the ACME Water District and that the Council believes that “ACME should continue to own it” rather than abandon it. The Council members serve as ACME’s Board. The petition to save Big Sunny-


land Canal Bridle Trail, originally posted in order to gain support to urge the Council to not abandon the land, also contains a second measure for which supporters of the trail urge equestrians and those who support the bridle trail system to sign. The meas- ure includes asking the Council to con- tinue to take steps toward making the Big Sunnyland Canal Bridle Trail pub- lic and integrate it into the official Wellington Bridle Trail system in the equestrian element of the Comprehen- sive Plan.


Visit www.therider.com


An aerial photo showing the Lake Worth Road Right of Way Trail


What Can You Do? Sign the Petition! We will con-


tinue to collect signatures to show the equestrian and local community’s sup- port for the bridle trails and in making the Big Sunnyland Canal Bridle Trail public and part of its official system. Nearly 600 people have already signed, and we know that many in the larger community support this effort.


SIGN THE PETITION - https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/don- t-abandon-bridle-trail-in-palm-beach- point


Thank the Council! Email the


Village Council and Village Manager to thank them for retaining the Big Sunnyland Canal Bridle Trail (offi- cially the Lake Worth Road Right of Way Bridle Trail in Palm Beach Point). Be sure to include your name and address, and most importantly, pass along your thanks to them for en-


suring that the trail continues to be owned by ACME, not the abutting property owners. Also, be sure to re- quest that the trail be added to the of- ficial Village Bridle Trail system. Email addresses are as follows:


Mayor Anne Gerwig: agerwig@wellingtonfl.gov Vice-Mayor Tanya Siskind: tsiskind@wellingtonfl.gov Councilman John McGovern: jmcgov- ern@wellingtonfl.gov Councilman Michael Napoleone: mnapoleone@wellingtonfl.gov Councilman Michael Drahos: mdra- hos@wellingtonfl.gov Village Manager Jim Barnes: jbarnes@wellingtonfl.gov


For more information, visit the


Preserve Wellington Bridle Trails Facebook page or email Glen Fleis- cher


at SaveSunnylandTrail@gmail.com.


Visit: www.theridermarketplace.com


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